Table S1.
Questions of the Internet survey
| Q1 | Which of the following is your usual method of deciding on a treatment for RA in the outpatient setting? Please select 1 of the 4 options. | |
| 1 | You select a treatment for your patient on the basis of what you think is best. | |
| 2 | You present multiple options to your patient but make the decision for the patient. | |
| 3 | You let your patient choose the treatment after presenting some treatment options. | |
| 4 | You discuss treatment options with your patient and then come to a decision together. | |
| Q2 | How important are the following actions for physicians when they decide on treatments? Please rate the importance on a 5-point scale (5: very important – 1: not important at all). | |
| 1 | Physicians give information about treatment to patients. | |
| 2 | Physicians present multiple treatment options to patients. | |
| 3 | Physicians make an effort to answer patients’ questions. | |
| 4 | Physicians discuss treatment options with patients. | |
| Q3 | How much do you want your patients to do the following for effective RA treatment? Please rate the importance on a 5-point scale (5: strongly – 1: not at all). | |
| 1 | Have correct information about treatments. | |
| 2 | Actively research information about treatments. | |
| 3 | Have supportive family and friends. | |
| 4 | State their desires and concerns about treatments to the physician. | |
| 5 | State their desires and concerns about treatments to a nurse. | |
| 6 | Ask medical staff questions about the disease and treatments. | |
| 7 | Follow the doctor’s directions. | |
| Q4 | How important is the following information for you to decide on a treatment? Please rate the importance on a 5-point scale (5: very important – 1: not important at all). | |
| 1 | Patient’s age | |
| 2 | Number of swollen or tender joints | |
| 3 | Radiographic changes of typical erosion in the affected joints | |
| 4 | Serum rheumatoid factor | |
| 5 | Serum anti-CCP antibody | |
| 6 | Acute-phase reactants (abnormal serum CRP or ESR) | |
| 7 | Activity of daily living at home, school, workplace, etc | |
| 8 | Functional status (disability), usually assessed by HAQ score | |
| 9 | Patient’s preferences for treatment | |
| 10 | Information about the effects of the treatment | |
| 11 | Information about adverse effects of the treatment | |
| 12 | Financial burden of the treatment on the patient | |
Abbreviations: RA, rheumatoid arthritis; CCP, cyclic citrullinated peptide; CRP, C-reactive protein; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; HAQ, health assessment questionnaire.